Cancer diagnosis based on levels of antibodies against Globo H and its fragments

Abstract

A cancer diagnostic method using a glycan array that contains Gb5 and Globo H, Bb2, Bb3, and/or Bb4.

1. A cancer diagnostic method, comprising
 providing a sample containing antibodies from a subject suspected of having cancer, 
 incubating the sample with Gb5 and one or more of Globo H, Bb2, Bb3, and Bb4 to allow binding of antibodies in the sample to the Gb5 and the one or more of Globo H, Bb2, Bb3, and Bb4, 
 measuring both the amount of Gb5-bound antibodies and the amount of Globo H-bound, Bb2-bound, Bb3-bound, or Bb4-bound antibodies, and 
 determining whether the subject has the cancer based on the amounts of all of the bound antibodies, 
 
       wherein the cancer is both Globo H-positive and Gb5-positive; and a higher ratio of the amount of Globo H-bound, Bb2-bound, Bb3-bound, or Bb4-bound antibodies to the amount of Gb5-bound antibodies, as compared with that of a cancer-free subject, indicates that the subject has the cancer. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5 and Globo H. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5 and Bb3. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5 and Bb2. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5, Globo H, Bb2, Bb3, and Bb4. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is serum, saliva, or lymph node fluid. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Gb5 and the one or more of Globo H, Bb2, Bb3, and Bb4 are immobilized on a supporting device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, ovary cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, and pancreas cancer. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the cancer is breast cancer. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the Gb5 and the one or more of Globo H, Bb2, Bb3, and Bb4 are immobilized on a supporting device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5 and Globo H. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the Gb5 and the Globo H are immobilized on a supporting device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5 and Bb2. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5 and Bb3. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the incubating step is performed by mixing the sample with Gb5, Globo H, Bb2, Bb3, and Bb4. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sample is serum, saliva, or lymph node fluid. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sample is serum. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the sample is serum. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is an epithelial cancer. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibodies measured are IgG antibodies. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibodies measured are IgM antibodies.